Have you ever watched in disgusted amazement as your dog, who has just vomited on the rug, feverishly tries to eat it up before you can get to it? This behavior may seem bizarre to us but in the dog world it is par for the course and is considered a delightful course indeed. Dogs probably strive too hard to eat their vomit because 1. their mothers regurgitated food for them when they were puppies and 2. their heightened sense of smell reveals the actual food particles in it.

Some vomiting is normal for dogs. Dogs vomit for many reasons including an irritated stomach, eating too fast or too much, or sometimes because of nervousness. A large amount of the time, vomiting is not something to worry about but sometimes it can indicate a serious condition. If your dog vomits once or more a week and it is accompanied by diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite, check with your vet. The trick is know a bit about canine vomiting, what to do, and when to haul your butt to the emergency vet.

Stores that sell clothing for construction and roadway workers also often sell cooling bandanas or fabric neckbands filled with water-absorbing crystals. Next time you buy one for yourself, either for work or just to get you through the summer days, buy one for your dog.

Soak it and then tie it gently around the neck of a large dog or wrap and tie it around the back and chest of a small dog just behind the front legs. Now and then, refresh it with your water bottle and the two of you should be good to go for much longer on a hot day.